SUPES OK INDIGENT DEFENSE CONTRACT

New public defender’s connection to firm sparks concern, debate

The recent appointment of prominent lawyer Steven Harmon as Riverside County public defender prompted a spirited Board of Supervisors discussion Tuesday about the need to prevent Harmon from steering county legal work to his soon-to-be former law firm.

Harmon is set to take the helm of the public defender’s office Monday.

His firm, Criminal Defense Lawyers of Riverside, is one of three under contract to handle cases the county office is unable to take because of conflicts. Such conflicts typically occur when there are multiple defendants who can’t afford their own lawyers.

The contracts are worth millions annually to each firm.

Criminal Defense Lawyers is in the process of reorganizing without Harmon. And the Board of Supervisors reached unanimous agreement to formally remove Harmon’s name from the contract, in recognition of that change and his new role.

However, Supervisor Jeff Stone said he was concerned about appearances, with Harmon about to take office and Criminal Defense Lawyers due to handle cases in which there are conflicts through June 2014. He warned that some people might accuse the county of operating a “good old boys club” in which Harmon steers extra work to the firm.

“It just doesn’t smell right to the public,” Stone said.

He urged colleagues to start over on indigent defense and bid a new contract.

But the majority were persuaded that continuing the current arrangement wouldn’t be a problem when Virginia Blumenthal, whose firm shares responsibility for indigent defense, assured supervisors there is no chance her firm will lose work. Blumenthal said the contract divides cases geographically, and the public defender has no say in who is assigned a particular client.

Criminal Defense Lawyers handles Southwest County cases heard at the French Valley courthouse, and represents indigent clients in Banning and in two Riverside courtrooms.

Blumenthal handles most Riverside cases, and a third team of lawyers handles Palm Springs-area cases.

Supervisors voted 4-1, with Stone voting no, to continue the contract through its June 2014 expiration and to begin in a few months preparations for soliciting bids for a new contract after that.